Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has issued an ultimatum to street beggars in Abuja, ordering them to vacate the city’s streets by next week, while simultaneously announcing ambitious infrastructure development plans for the capital.
During the flag-off ceremony for new access roads in the Katampe District on Tuesday, Wike expressed concerns about Abuja’s image.
“Abuja is turning into a beggar city,” he declared.
He added, “If you know you have a sister or brother who is a beggar, please, from next week, we’ll carry them. We’ll take them out. It is embarrassing that people will come in and the first thing they’ll see are just beggars on the road.”
“We owe a duty to make sure Abuja competes favourably with cities of the world. We can replicate what we see overseas here, and as far as road infrastructure is concerned in Abuja, we are not going to compromise; we will use the best contractors.
“A lot of people have said that we are concentrating on Abuja; that is not correct. As I speak to you, tomorrow, Thursday, we’ll be at the area councils. On Monday, we’ll be in Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Kwali. This December, we’re commissioning six roads that will total about 65 kilometres in the area councils.”
The Explainer gathered that the development plan extends beyond road infrastructure to include educational facilities.
“We are not concentrating on roads alone,” Wike emphasized. “We have not less than 25 schools to be rehabilitated because you can’t believe that in a city like Abuja, you’ll just go to the schools and you’ll ask yourself, Is it Abuja at all? We have taken it upon ourselves that our schools will be like schools, and anybody can say they are good schools.”
The new access road project, which includes internal roads within the Judges’ Quarters, is scheduled for completion by May next year, coinciding with President Tinubu’s second anniversary in office.
“As I speak to you, we have not less than 70 per cent of the money in the budget. So, you have to work round the clock to make sure Mr President commissions the project on his second anniversary,” Wike stated.
House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, represented by his deputy Benjamin Kalu, endorsed the infrastructure initiatives.
“The provision of infrastructure in an urban centre like Abuja was not only an economic necessity but also crucial to fostering development, enhancing economic growth and improving the well-being of the citizens,” he noted.
Tajudeen praised both President Tinubu’s administration and Wike’s leadership, saying, “From road construction to urban renewal programmes, his dedication to enhancing the FCT’s infrastructure is evident. We have witnessed several flag-offs, not just as ceremonial acts but as milestones in the commitment to making Abuja a world-class city.”